Having both a fine arts and a new media background, on Feb 21st I attended Moose Camp hosted by Northern Voice at UBC during the day and Fuse at the Vancouver art gallery during the night. It was here I got to observe these two cultures close at hand. Just like Dian Fossey and the Gorillas, I couldn't help but to compare the males of these species.

With Vancouver personal expression conference Northern Voice approaching, Dave O, Roland Tanglao and Richard Eriksson preview the Internet Boot Camp track at Moose Camp (Friday Feb 22, 2008).

This year at Moose Camp, Richard will present Blogging 101 and Roland (along with Jordan Behan and Warren Frey) will present Video Blogging 101 to go along with the ad hoc track. On Saturday's Northern Voice, Dave will lay out his pitch to encourage the assembled folks to seize the opportunity to make creative endeavours with integrity and not get hung on stats and fleeting noteriety. Then, plates of steaming tasty Cantonese food arrives to the table at The Boss cafe in Vancouver's Chinatown.

Raincity Studios' Dave O and Roland Tanglao at New Town Bakery in Chinatown discussing upcoming Vancouver social media and open technology conferences, Northern Voice (including Moose Camp and Internet boot camp) and Open Web Conference - both in Vancouver in the coming months.

They talk about some presentation ideas, advantages of attending and handy tips for transport and sustenance while enjoying bowls of tasty food and strong tea.

In the seemingly endless stream of meet-ups, conferences, un-events, random occurrences and edu-tainment of all kinds, there is one event which reigns supreme and I posit is Vancouver's must-goevent.

Anyone interested in: a) social media creation, b) meeting collaborators in an unpretentious environment, c) good times - should really show up for both days.

Northern Voice was amazing again this year. I dare say the best ever!

For me as always it was about the people. The unexpected: like connecting with Robin Yap in the Social Media Diaspora Session. Or Second Life super scripter Catherine Winters (wow! yet another demonstration of the world class talent we have here in Vancouver!)

And the expected: Dave Olson, social media rockstar (his 3P's of Podcasting session was superb; it was my favourite of the few I managed to squeeze in between organizing!), vancouver fashion photographer Kris' fantastic photography session. Anil Dash's humbly understated but brilliant keynote on blog persistence and awareness. And so much more.